Top 20 Must Read WWII Books of 2018

Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944 by Antony Beevor – Any new book by Antony Beevor is usually cause for anticipation if not celebration on behalf of WW2 history enthusiasts. His first new book since Ardennes is set for release in the UK in and can be pre-ordered from the Amazon.co.uk website. The US release is in September & can be ordered here. Beevor is certain to provide his trademark passion for the stories of those who fought in his telling of the Market Garden operation.

496 pg, Viking, Released May 24, 2018 (UK) – 480 pg, Viking, Released September 11, 2018 (US)

 

The Flying Tigers: The Untold Story of the American Pilots Who Waged a Secret War Against Japan by Sam Kleiner – Set for release in May, this book tells the story of men who were sent to defend the Chinese allies before the US entered the war. The book covers theaters often overlooked, like Burma and India. This should be a great read.

304 pg, Viking, Released May 15, 2018

 

World War II at Sea: A Global History by Craig L. Symonds – At a whopping 792 pages, this new tome from naval historian Craig L. Symonds is set for a May release and promises a “global history” of the war at sea. We’re looking forward to settling into the armchair and reliving some of the greatest naval battles in history!

792 pg, Oxford University Press, Released May 2, 2018

 

JD Salinger & The Nazis by Eberhard Alsen – Many of those who went on to become famous actors, writers and politicians were swept up in the events of WW2. One of these was none other than J.D. Salinger, author of classic American novel Catcher in the Rye. This rather short book promises a new look at Salinger’s service and the impact it had on his writing as well as his politics and life. It’s sure to be one of this year’s most interesting reads.

168 pg, University of Wisconsin Press, Released April, 17, 2018

 

Rescue Board: The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to Save the Jews of Europe by Rebecca Erbelding – This April release looks at one of the most enduring controversies of the war – whether the US did enough to assist in the rescue and relocation of European Jews during the Holocaust. While the answer is most certainly a resounding “No”, this book looks at the minor success of the FDR administration in using the War Refugee Board to rescue some of the remaining Jews after the worst of the genocide late in the war.

384 pg, Doubleday, Released April 10, 2018

 

The Final Race: The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire by Eric Eichinger with Eva Marie Everson – Many have heard of the man who inspired the movie Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell, but are not aware of the continuation of his incredible life after that story took place. This included fighting in China in World War Two and serving time in a Japanese internment camp. Don’t miss this April release!

304 pg, Tyndale Momentum, Released April 3, 2018

 

In Broad Daylight: The Secret Procedures Behind the Holocaust by Bullets, Based on New Research and First-Hand Accounts by Father Patrick Desbois – This follow-up book by Father Desbois looks further in depth at what he called in his first book The Holocaust by Bullets. Because of his dedicated research, the lesser known story that a great deal of murders of Jews were carried out by mass shootings in broad daylight, is now known. New research makes this book a must read for anyone interested in this harrowing subject and the war in general.

312 pg, Arcade Publishing, Released January 23, 2018

 

Hitler’s American Friends: The Third Reich’s Supporters in the United States by Bradley W. Hart As hard as it may be to believe today, there were groups of hardened Nazi sympathizers in America from the 1930s through the Second World War and beyond. With the recent rise of the “alt-right” in the United States, it is more important than ever to learn about the history of some of the original Nazi sympathizers in America.

304 pg, Thomas Dunne Books, Released October 2, 2018

 

Young Hitler: The Making of the Fuhrer by Paul Ham – There are certainly many books written about Hitler as a symbol of evil, nihilism and purveyor of horrific mass murder. Fewer books look at his life before his most heinous acts were committed. Author Paul Ham who has written on topics such us Hiroshima & Nagasaki and the First World War promises to provide a glimpse into the making of one of history’s most well-known dictators.

320 pg, Pegasus Books, Released June 5, 2018

 

The Tango War: The Struggle for the Hearts, Minds and Riches of Latin America During World War II by Mary Jo McConahay – While being referred to as a “World War”, much less is written about the important role played by Latin America in the conflict. The Tango War seeks to tell the story of Latin America that was used in many ways during the war but is seldom remembered for its role beyond being a place where prominent Nazis went seeking anonymity after the war.

320 pg, St Martin’s Press, Released September 18, 2018

 

The Washington War: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Politics of Power That Won World War II by James Lacey – This book promises to be an insider’s look at the Second World War as if unfolded in the corridors of power. FDR was known for pitting people and agencies against one another in an attempt to draw out the best solutions. As the fight for the New Deal switched to the fight against the Axis powers, this behavior made things at times fraught and uncertain. This is sure to be a fascinating read.

480 pg, Bantam, Released August, 28, 2018

 

Architects of Death: The Family Who Engineered the Death Camps by Karen Bartlett – This August release tells the story of the industrial family behind the creation of the crematorium ovens at the most notorious concentration camps. It serves as a useful reminder that many involved in the horrific atrocities during the Second World War did so as “regular” people – in this case as industrialists, thereby giving credence to Hannah Arendt’s theory about the “banality of evil”.

320 pg, St Martin’s Press, Released August 21, 2018

 

Rampage: MacArthur, Yamashita and the Battle of Manila by James M. Scott – Released in October, this book by James M. Scott focuses on the Battle of Manila in 1945. As MacArthur and US troops returned to take back the city, instead of facing little resistance as expected, the Japanese under Yamashita fought to the death, destroying the city and over 100,000 civilians in the process. A lesser-known battle of the Pacific War, the destruction of Manila was a massive tragedy and one of the most brutal of the Second World War.

640 pg, W.W. Norton & Company, Released October 2, 2018

 

SOE Heroines: The Special Operations Executive’s French Section & Free French Women Agents by Bernard O’Connor – This promises to be another great book on the brave heroines of the Second World War – women who were loyal to the Free French forces and parachuted across enemy lines to commit sabotage and build resistance. Many of them did not survive but served admirably in the struggle against fascism.

424 pg, Amberley Publishing, Released July 1, 2018

 

The Stone Crusher: The True Story of a Father and Son’s Fight for Survival in Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield – It is well known that some Jews survived extermination during the Holocaust due to having special skills. In this case father Gustav and son Fritz not only survived due to their experience and skill in construction, but also lived to tell the fascinating story via a secret journal kept for six years in the death camps. This promises to be a fascinating read.

384 pg, Chicago Review Press, Released July 1, 2018

 

Persian Gulf Command: A History of the Second World War in Iran and Iraq by Ashley Jackson – Lesser known theaters in the Second World War are always worth further study for any history buff. This book promises a look at the ways in which an area of the world more associated with modern wars was transformed and impacted by the largest conflict of the last century and how those transformations remain to the modern day.

384 pg, Yale University Press, Released June 26, 2018

 

Churchill’s Spy Files: MI5’s Top-Secret Wartime Reports by Nigel West – Though much has been written about espionage during World War Two, West’s new book promises a look at newly uncovered, formerly top secret, files from the archives. This will be an exciting read for those interested in wartime secrets and Winston Churchill himself.

464 pg, The History Press UK, Released June 1, 2018

 

The Cinderella Campaign: First Canadian Army and the Battles for the Channel Ports by Mark Zuehlke – The Canadians were charged with the thankless, brutal task of opening the Channel ports, some of the most heavily defended of the entire conflict. Getting the ports open was crucial to getting supplies and ammunition to the Allies as they fought to take back mainland Europe from the Nazis. This is certain to be an intriguing read.

512 pg, Douglas & McIntyre, Released May 15, 2018

 

Edith’s War: Writings of a Red Cross Worker and Lifelong Champion of Social Justice by Peter A. Witt – As told by her nephew, the story of Edith May Witt is one of lifelong service. Starting in Algeria, Edith worked for the Red Cross in countries all over Europe before returning home to find herself involved in racial justice movements, including Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Selma.

280 pg, Texas A&M University Press, Released May 4, 2018

 

The Escape Line: How the Ordinary Heroes of Dutch-Paris Resisted the Nazi Occupation of Western Europe by Megan Koreman – Made up of ordinary citizens, the escape route for Dutch Jews to France and then to Switzerland and freedom is an amazing tale of courage, daring and effort of regular people to save thousands from the Nazi juggernaut.

424 pg, Oxford University Press, Released  May 3, 2018